110 ANNUAL KEPOET 



growing on trees that were such near neighbors — apparently- 

 almost on one root. Through the agency of the wind and the 

 honey bee, or from some other unknown source, a single tree, 

 but undoubtedly that its ancestor, while in bloom, had been im- 

 pregnated with the pollen of a better variety, would bear a 

 large delicious plum, while its nearest neighbor, perhaps fifteen 

 or twenty of them, would produce a pungent, bitter, sour, and a» 

 repulsive to the taste as a green persimmon; again, in other groves 

 where the trees were so near to each other that a person could 

 hardly pass through them, there would be found extra choice, 

 good, fairly good, medium, worthless, repulsive, pungent, bitter 

 and detestable specimens. The product would also vary in size. 

 The largest plum, as a general rule, would be much tne best in 

 flavor; the smallest the most worthless, but this was not always 

 so, as once in a while very small specimens were found that 

 equaled in delicious flavor those of the largest size. By a 

 proper system of cultivation it was discovered that the size of 

 the native plum could be increased. The fruit would mature 

 earlier also than where it remained in its native heath. 



Perhaps aside from the cranberry and the plum, the most pro- 

 lific bearer of our native fruits was the blackberry of the big 

 woods. At the proper season of the year I have seen — as many 

 of you doubtless have — the steamer Antelope, Oapt. Geo. 

 Houghton's daily packet that traversed the two rivers between 

 St. Paul and Carver, filled with large boxes and tubs full of this 

 fruit. The upper, the middle, the lower decks — the cabins and 

 every available space on the boat occupied with this fruit. It 

 had been gathered by the early settlers and sent to the markets 

 of the twin cities. 



As I am to be followed during this session of the Society by 

 an honored exponent, John S. Harris, with a paper in regard to 

 the wild fruit of the Northwest, who will speak of their merits 

 far abler than I am capable of doing, I do not deem it necessary 

 to refer to other varieties that existed here in an early day. 



Mr. Sias. Is there such a thing as a thornless gooseberry in 

 Minnesota? 

 Col. Stevens. Yes, there is. 



